Copolymer containing medicaments

ABSTRACT

Copolymers comprising acrylic or methacrylic acid and methyl methacrylate are neutralized by the addition of cyclic alkylene imines, preferably ethylene imine, to form a product which is capable of absorbing large amounts of material soluble in water, and slowly releasing those materials. The fundamental copolymer may be modified by the addition of cross-linking agents, chain terminators, plasticizers, etc., prior to treatment with the alkylene imine. The treated copolymers are particularly useful in the formation of contact lenses for the application of medicinals to the eye, and for other depot materials.

United States Patent 1191 Blank et al.

1451 Dec. 16, 1975 COPOLYMER CONTAINING MEDICAMENTS [75] Inventors: lzhak Blank; Joseph Fertig, both of Haifa, Israel [73] Assignee: Hydrophilics International, Inc.,

New York, NY.

[22] Filed: July 12, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 487,871

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 246,831, April 24,

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 12, l97l United Kingdom 37936/71 [52] US. Cl. 424/81; 260/861 R [51] Int. Cl. A61K 31/78 [58] Field of Search 424/81; 260/861 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,087,860 4/l963 Endicott 424/81 3,453,360 7/1969 Hill 424/81 3,574,826 4/1971 Shepherd et al 424/81 3,576,760 4/1971 Gould et a1. 424/81 3,641,237 2/1972 0611111 et al. 424/81 3,660,071 5/1972 061116 et a1. 424/81 3,660,563 5/1972 Gould et a1. 424/81 3,728,314 4/1972 Blank 424/81 3,728,317 4/1973 Blank 260/861 R OTHER PUBLICATIONS Morf, Chemical Abstracts, 73:26836j (1970). Sramek, Chemical Abstracts, 73:89250j (1970).

Primary ExaminerNor-man A. Drezin Attorney, Agent, or FirmRyder, McAulay, Fields, Fisher & Goldstein [57] ABSTRACT Copolymers comprising acrylic or methacrylic acid and methyl methacrylate are neutralized by the addition of cyclic alkylene imines, preferably ethylene imine, to form a product which is capable of absorbing 3 Claims, No Drawings COPOLYMER CONTAINING MEDICAMENTS CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application, Ser. No. 246,831 for Copolymers, filed Apr. 24, 1972.

This application is related to the copending applicacross-linking agents, such as polyethylene glycol ditions of Izhak Blank, Ser. No. 139,545 for Optical Contact Lenses and Related Devices, filed May 3, 1971, now US. Pat. No. 3,728,317, and Ser. No. 139,544 for Chemical Composition for Viscosity Control and Film Forming Materials, filed May 3, 1971, now US. Pat. No. 3,728,314, in that similar materials are copolymerized and neutralized to form hydrophilic copolymers.

This application is based upon copending British application No. 37,936/71 for Copolymers and Compositions Containing Copolymers, filed Aug. 12, 1971 and the filing date of that application is claimed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Previously referenced US. Pat. No. 3,728,317 describes the formation of a hydrophilic copolymer, primarily for use in contact lenses. The basic components of that copolymer are methyl methacrylate and acrylic acid which are copolymerized and subsequently neutralized with a basic material, such as ammonium hydroxide. The application also discloses that various medicinal agents can be absorbed by the resulting copolymer, or the copolymer in the form of a lens, for application of that medicinal to the eye. While the neutralized copolymer described and claimed in the application is entirely adequate for the purposes set forth, it does not provide a slow, controlled release of the medicinal and, further, cannot be employed when the medicinal to be absorbed is acidic in nature, i.e., has a pH less than 7.

Many active medicinal materials are most stable in the acid form. It is frequently desired that these medicinals be applied for a sustained period with a single physical application. I

If a polymer formed according to the disclosure of the copending application, now US. Pat. No. 3,728,317, is treated with a material under acidic conditions, it will not hydrate. If the polymer has already been hydrated with sodium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, or some other basic solution and is then put in contact with an acidic solution, the resulting materials shrinks and hardens. Thus, it can be seen that such a material is not useful with acidic active agents.

Thus, to adequately treat a patient with an active medicinal of this type, there are two requirements for the carrier. The first requirement is that the carrier be stable in and capable of absorbing in an acid medium, while still retaining its softness. It is also desirable that the material should be functional in neutral and alkaline media. The second requirement is that the carrier slowly release the medicinal and not release the major portion of it immediately upon application. In some instances, particularly as in treatment of the eye, a third critical factor exists. That third factor is that the carrier must be comfortable and, more particularly, soft and flexible. None of the products of the prior art are capable of meeting each of these criteria. I

The capability of absorbing and releasing various materials can be enhanced by introducing hydrophilic tend to produce a softer final product, while the use of other cross-linking agents, such as divinylbenzene and dimethacrylate alkyl esters, tend to give much harder materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, acrylic or methacrylic acid, or a mixture of the two, and methyl methacrylate or methyl acrylate are copolymerized in any standard manner. It is particularly preferable that this copolymerization be carried out, either in the presence of a chemical catalyst or by free ion polymerization, in bulk. Employingbulk copolymerization significantly improved and unique properties are obtained, as more fully set forth in the copending application, now US. Pat. No. 3,728,317, previously referred to.

The copolymer may have incorporated therein small amounts of internal plasticizers or chain terminators. The internal plasticizers are long chain acrylate or methacrylate esters, such as those having from 8 to 18 carbon atoms. Various thiols have been found particularly useful in chain termination, when this is desired.

After formation of the desired copolymer, it is treated with an aqueous solution of ethylene imine to neutralize the acid groups present in the copolymer. A variety of materials can be absorbed or adsorbed by the treated copolymer for subsequent, slow sustained release.

One material for which the cross-linked copolymer of the present invention is particularly valuable is pilocarpine hydrochloride, a medicinal for treatment of certain eye disorders.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In accordance with the present invention, a copolymer is first formed with from 10 to 30 parts, by volume, acrylic or methacrylic acid and from 50 to 90 parts, by volume, of a lower alkyl acrylate or methacrylate. By lower alkyl is meant an acrylate or methacrylate wherein the alkyl group has from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, etc. The preferred amounts of acrylic or methacrylic acid are from 15 to 25 parts, by volume, while the preferred amounts of the lower alkyl acrylate or methacrylate are from to parts.

While thecopolymer can be formed by suspension or emulsion polymerization, the polymerization is most preferably carried out in bulk. When bulk copolymerization is employed, the polymerization is carried out at a temperature of from 40 to 60C., preferably from 45 to 55C.

The polymerization is generally carried out in the presence of a suitable catalyst. Useful catalysts include peroxides, for example, benzoyl or lauryl peroxide, or an azo compound. The preferred catalyst is maazodiisobutyronitrile. When such chemical catalysts are employed, amounts of from 0.01 to 0.12 percent, by weight, based upon the total weight of monomer, is generally employed. Preferably, the amount of catalyst is from 0.03 to 0.05 percent. The polymerization can be carried out in the presence of ultraviolet radiation.

In some instances, it may be desirable to internally plasticize the copolymer. Such internal plasticization is accomplished by copolymerizing a long chain ester of acrylic or methacrylic acid. By long chain is meant an ester of acrylic or methacrylic acid where the alkyl group has from 8 to 18 carbon atoms. A preferred plasticizer of this type is ethyl hexyl acrylate. Other plasticizers which may be used include lauryl acrylate, lauryl methacrylate, stearyl acrylate, stearyl methacrylate, and similar materials. The amount of plasticizing monomer which is copolymerized can vary from to 20 parts, by volume, preferably from to parts, by volume.

If desired, a chain terminator or regulator may be included in the copolymerization formula. The molecular weight of the material can be controlled in this way. A suitable chain terminator is dodecanethiol which can be employed in amounts of from 0.1 to 1.0 percent, by volume. Other suitable regulators include trichlorethylene and other materials known to the art.

The copolymers formed according to this invention can have a very high molecular weight, for example, more than 1,000,000 and often more than 2,000,000. The molecular weight can be determined by measuring the intrinsic viscosity of the formed copolymer in methyl ethyl ketone at C. The copolymers of the present invention generally have intrinsic viscosities of where R and R are individually selected from the class consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl radicals, X is hydrogen or hydroxyl, and n is a number from 0 to 4. The preferred materials are those where n is O, R and R are hydrogen, methyl, or ethyl, and X is hydrogen. Most preferably, the material is ethylene imine.

The copolymer is immersed in an aqueous solution of the alkylene imine for from about 12 to 48 hours. Preferably, the copolymer is in a solid form when immersed, for example, in the form of a lens. While the reaction will proceed at ambient temperature, higher temperatures can be successfully employed.

The concentration of alkylene imine should be from about 0.5 to 5.0 percent, and sufficient alkylene imine should be allowed to react so as to neutralize essentially all of the acid groups on the copolymer.

While not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that, when using ethylene imine, the initial reaction product is the imonium salt of formula:

CH polymer chain COO- H N C which produces a large hydration. The imonium salt is believed to be slowly transformed into the amino ethyl ester, with a resultant reduction in hydration, the ester having the formula:

(3) polymer chain COOCH CH NH LII 4 It is believed that the final form of the copolymer is an internal salt of the amine of formula (3 )formed with an adjacent carboxylic group from the polymer chain and having the formula (4) polymer chain COOCH CH N H OOC polymer chain.

Treated copolymers formed as just described swell in both acidic and alkaline solutions. For example, a lens having 15 percent acrylic acid, and percent methyl methacrylate, neutralized by treatment with a 1 percent aqueous solution of ethylene imine for 48 hours at ambient temperature, resulting in neutralization of essentially all of the copolymer acid groups, swelled in both acidic and alkaline solutions. A contact lens form was made from this cross-linked copolymer and when treated with a 0.36% hydrochloric acid solution achieved a hydration of 78%. The materials were optically clear and soft. Additionally, they absorbed essentially the same amounts of a medicinal agent, such as pilocarpine hydrochloride, as a hydrophilic copolymer which has not been treated with alkaline imine. However, the treated copolymers release the medicinal agent at a much slower rate, so as to provide for a sustained treatment with the material.

In order that those skilled in the art may be better enabled to practice the present invention, the following examples are given. These examples should be considered as illustrative only and not as limiting in any way the full scope of the invention as covered in the appended claims. All parts in these examples are by volume, unless otherwise indicated.

In some of the examples, there is a treatment with Sorensens solution. This solution is formed by dissolving 3.40 grams potassium dihydrogen phosphate and 3.55 grams disodium hydrogen phosphate in water, and diluting to 1. liter.

EXAMPLE 1 In this example a variety of materials were formed outside of the present invention. Such materials include hydrophilic lenses formed of acrylic or methacrylic acid and methyl methacrylate neutralized with sodium hydroxide, and similar copolymers cross-linked with materials other than ethylene imine. After formation of the copolymer with the compositions as indicated, the material was cut into discs of approximately 0.3 mm. thickness or lenses of approximately 0.15 mm. thickness, were hydrated in a 0.5 percent sodium hydroxide solution, were conditioned in Sorensens solution, and were then treated with 0.3 percent pilocarpine hydrochloride in Sorensens solution until constant weight was achieved. The rate of removal of the pilocarpine hydrochloride was then measured by placing the thus treated lens into 20 milliliters of Sorensens solution and removing 2 milliliter aliquots of the solution at 5 minute intervals. The pilocarpine content was measured at 215 millimicrons on a Perkin-Elmer Hitachi 124 UV. spectrophotometer. The aliquot was then returned to the bulk solution. The compositions of the material. hydration. and concentration factor are shown in Table l. The release rate of the pilocarpine hydrochloride for each copolymer is as indicated in Table 2.

Table 1 Hydration Milligrams in 0.3% Pilocarpine Hydration in Pilocarpine Absorbed Hydration in Sorensen's Hydrochloride Per Methyl Acrylic 0.5% NaOH Solution Sorensens Milligram Concentration Polymer Methacrylate Acid (7:) (7:) Solution Polymer Factor l methacrylic acid Table 2-continued also contains 3 percent ethylene glycol dlmeth- Release of Pilocarpine Hydrochloride Per Minute acrylate 50% 75 100% 3 'also contains 5 percent ethylene glycol dimeth- H 75 29 acrylate 3 9 4 4 also contains 3 percent polyethylene glycol 200 i 8 dimethacrylate L 4 78 5 also contains 5 percent polyethylene glycol 200 35 2- 2 dlmethacrylafe o 14 6 also contains 10 percent polyethylene glycol 200 P 10 31 60 dimethacrylate 7 also contains 3 percent carbowax 350 dimethac- 40 rylate 8 also contains 5 percent carbowax 350 dimethacrylate 9 also contains 10 percent'carbowax 350 dimethacrylate 10 also contains 5 percent polyethylene glycol 200 dimethacrylate 11- contains 10 percent polyethylene glycol 1500 dimaleate Concentration factor, as used in the table, refers to the amount of the medicinal agent which is absorbed, compared to that which might be absorbed. For example, if a 100 gram sample of the copolymer was immersed in a 1 percent pilocarpine hydrochloride solution, and increased in weight by 100 grams, it would be expected that 1 gram of pilocarpine hydrochloride would have been absorbed. If, on the other hand, with the same 100 gram increase in weight, 5 grams of pilocarpine hydrochloride are absorbed, then the concentration factor is 5.

Those copolymers which were cross-linked with carbowax 350 dimethacrylate had a good retention of pilocarpine hydrochloride, as can be seen from the table, and were soft. However, their retention rates were not sufficiently high as can be seen from the rapid release. The lenses made with polyethylene glycol 200 dimethacrylate, such as that made with 10%, did have a high absorption of pilocarpine hydrochloride and released it relatively slowly, but the lenses were hard. This can be seen from theh low liquid content.

EXAMPLE 2 In this example, a series of copolymers were treated with a 1 percent solution of ethylene imine for 24 to 48 hours until constant weight was achieved. Subsequently, the lenses were immersed in a 0.3 percent solution of pilocarpine hydrochloride in Sorensens solution for 24 to 48 hours until a constant weight was achieved. The rate of removal of the pilocarpine hydrochloride was then measured by placing the thus treated lens into 20 millimeters of Sorensens solution and removing 2 milliliter aliquots of the solution at 5 minute intervals. The pilocarpine hydrochloride content was measured at 215 millimicrons on a Perkin-Elmer Hitachi 124 UV. spectrophotometer. The aliquot was then returned to the bulk solution. The compositions of these copolymers are given in Table 3 below. The release rate of the pilocarpine hydrochloride for each of these copolymers is shown in Table 4.

' Table 3 Weight Increase in Pilocarpine Milligrams Weight Weight Hydro- Pilocarpine Methyl Acrylic Increase in Increase in chloride- Hydrochloride Methacrylate Acid l7c Ethylene Sorensens Sorensen's Per Milligram Copolymer 7' By Volume 72 By Volume lmine Solution Solution Polymer Q 85 5s 50 50 0.023 R 80 63 58 58 0.026 s 75 68 63 60 0.026 T 82 I5 48 50 47 0.027 U 80 15 52 51 47 0.026 v 75 I59 48 45 41 0.027 w 75 20" 44 49 52 0.028 x 75 15 48 50 47 0.024

7 also contains 3 ercent carbowax 350 dimethacrylato p weighing 1.0gr, and was then placed in 50ml saline. 8 also contains 5 percent oarbowax 350 dlmethao The release of acetylsalicylic acid into the saline solurylate tion was then followed by a measurement with a UV 9 also contains 10 percent carbowax 350 dlmeth 20 Spectrophotometer at 275 mp. It was found that the aorylato concentration of acetylsalicylic acid in the sheet was 20 lo also contains 5 Percent polyethylene glycol 200 times that of the solution 50 percent of the acid was cllmethaorylate released in minutes and 100 percent in 4 hours. ll also contains 10 percent polyethylene glycol 25 EXAMPLE 5 1500 dlmaleate A copolymer sheet containing 80 percent methyl Table 4 methacrylate, 16 percent methacrylic acid and 4 per- Release of Pilocarpine Hydrochloride i o r cent ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate, 0.3mm thick, was 50% 75% immersed in a 1 percent solution of N-hydroxyethyl Q 48 72 9 ethylenimine for one week at room temperature. A g i: 33- strong, flexible, hydrated sheet was obtained, which T 48 70 94 could be cut into various shapes. U 60 84 90 v 48 68 7:; EXAMPLE 6 w 48 72 so X 40 72 96 35 A copolymer sheet containing 75 percent methyl Of the lenses referred to in Table 3, those formed from copolymers R and S were found to be soft. Lenses from copolymers Q, U, W and X were found to be semi-soft, while lenses from copolymers T and V were found to be hard. As can clearly be seen from Table 4, the treatment of the copolymer with ethylene imine significantly increases the time required to release the pilocarpine hydrochloride. The maximum time for release, as indicated in Table 2 without ethylene imine treatment is no more than 2- /2 hours. On the other hand, the minimum time for release of 50 percent, when similar copolymers are treated with ethylene imine, is hours. Thus, the time of release is increased by a factor of at least 20. As previously indicated, such a long period of sustained release is particularly desired when medicinals of this type are to be released.

EXAMPLE 3 A copolymer sheet containing 85 percent methyl methacrylate and 15 percent acrylic acid, 0.5mm thick, was immersed in a 1 percent aqueous solution of ethylenimine for one week at room temperature. A highly flexible hydrated sheet of good strength was obtained, which, after washing with distilled water, contained 50 percent water.

EXAMPLE 4 A sheet of Example 3 was washed in distilled water, dried, and a section weighing 0.5gr was placed in a 0.3 percent solution of acetylsalicylic acid in saline solution. After 18 hours the section was removed, now

methacrylate, 15 percent acrylic acid and 10 percent 2-ethylhexylacrylate, lmm thick, was immersed in a 2 percent solution of propylenimine for one week, giving a strong, flexible, hydrated sheet. Thin needles were cut from this sheet and thoroughly washed in distilled water. A needle weighing 7mg was then immersed in 0.5ml of a solution containing 250 units per millitier radioactive Insulin for 24 hours. It was found, using a Geiger counter, that the needle had absorbed 40 percent of the total available Insulin in the solution, and upon continuous immersion in saline solution (changed daily), released 25 percent of the Insulin within 14 days.

EXAMPLE 7 The copolymer employed in Example 6 was treated for 48 hours with a 2 percent aqueous solution of propylene imine at 50C. The resulting polymer was thoroughly washed with water until excess propylene imine is removed. The now washed polymer was dried at room temperature. The polymer was immersed in a solution of a narcotic antagonist, Naloxone hydrochloride 1 -N-Allyl-7,8-dihydro- 14-hydroxymorphinone hydrochloride), for a sufficient time to absorb 16 percent by weight of the copolymer of the antagonist. A small piece of the copolymer was subcutaneously implanted into a mouse. The antagonism to morphine sulfate was found to be 84 percent even after 12 weeks.

We claim:

1. A pharmaceutical composition having slow release properties containing a copolymer comprising from 10 to 30 parts, by volume, of a member selected from the class consisting of acrylic and methacrylic acid and where R and R are each selected from the class consisting of h dro en and lower alkyl radicals, X is hydrogen or by roxy and n is a number from 0 to 4; said copolymer having absorbed or adsorbed therein a small, but effective amount of a watersoluble medicinal agent.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the medicinal treating agent has a pH less than 7.

3. The composition of claim 1 wherein the medicinal treating agent has a pH above 7. 

1. A PHARMACEUTICALLY COMPOSITION HAVING SLOW RELEASE PROPERTIES CONTAINING A COPOLYMER COMPRISING FROM 10 TO 30 PARTS, BY VOLUME, OF A MEMBER SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF ACRYLIC AND METHACRYLIC ACID AND FROM 50 TO 90 PARTS, BY VOLUME, OF A MEMBER SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF ALKYL ACRYLATES AND METHACRYLATES, WHEREIN THE ALKYL GROUP HAS FROM 1 TO 4 CARBON ATOMS, THE ACID GROUPS OF SAID COPOLYMER HAVING BEEN NEUTRALIZED WITH AN ALKYLENE IMINE HAVING THE FORMULA:
 2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the medicinal treating agent has a pH less than
 7. 3. The composition of claim 1 wherein the medicinal treating agent has a pH above
 7. 